Mikel Arteta Reveals Moment That Convince Him to Sign Gyökeres

Mikel Arteta reveals moment of clarity during a personal call with Viktor Gyökeres that convinced him the striker was destined for Arsenal.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opened up about the key moment that led to the club’s high-profile signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP, in an interview with Men in Blazers, Arteta reveals that it was not Gyökeres’ impressive goal-scoring record that sealed the deal, but rather a simple, heartfelt response during their first conversation that made all the difference.

Arteta recounted a Zoom call with Gyökeres, where he asked the striker to imagine himself wearing the Arsenal shirt and walking into the dressing room under the weight of Premier League expectations. Gyökeres’ response was immediate and sincere: “That’s my dream.”

“His eyes opened wide,” Arteta said. “That was the best data I could get. You can have all the stats, but this guy has to walk into that dressing room, carry that pressure, and thrive in this league. That moment told me everything I needed to know.”

Gyökeres arrives at Arsenal with a formidable record: 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP, including a standout performance against Manchester City in the Champions League. While those numbers are impressive, Arteta emphasized that his decision was rooted in character and mentality.

“He brings security, dominance, and a kind of arrogance—not in a bad way, but the confidence to say: ‘Don’t worry, I’ll do it,’” Arteta added.

A Major Investment

Arsenal secured Gyökeres for a reported fee of €63 million, with potential add-ons bringing the total to €73 million, making him one of the club’s most expensive signings ever. The move signals a clear intent to solve Arsenal’s long-standing striker dilemma, following mixed results with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in the No. 9 role.

Gyökeres has already made an impression in pre-season, scoring in the Emirates Cup against Athletic Club. His first major test will be against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he’ll face his former manager from Sporting, Ruben Amorim. Interestingly, United is anticipated to start Benjamin Šeško, who was Arsenal’s initial target before switching to Gyökeres.

Arteta’s decision to sign Gyökeres was driven not only by goals, but also by grit, ambition, and the ability to thrive under pressure. If Gyökeres can translate his dream into consistent performances, Arsenal may have finally found the striker to lead them back to Premier League glory.

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